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11.18.20 SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE
Parents,
I hope you're enjoying this last week as we head into Thanksgiving break.
I want to address rumors that Baldwin County Public Schools will not be returning to class after Thanksgiving. There is no truth to these rumors. We are scheduled to return back to class after Thanksgiving break and we hope to finish the semester in class before the Christmas holidays.
I know there has been concern about a possible rise in COVID-19 cases in our schools. We have seen an increase in suspected/confirmed COVID numbers in our school system, but the vast majority of the increased numbers being discussed are a result of contact tracing and families quarantining under doctor's orders. For example, while we had nearly 70 people out on Monday, the Department of Public Health only showed seven of those as confirmed COVID-19 cases. The rest would be suspected which are people identified through contact tracing or quarantining of families.
Now let's be honest, we have always expected there would be a significant increase after Thanksgiving and going into the winter. Allergies, flu and holiday gatherings will certainly bring an increase of COVID-19 cases. This is not a surprise and we are prepared to deal with increased numbers.
During the summer, we developed plans to deal with COVID-19. Those plans included the ability to close a school, a grade level, a feeder pattern or the entire system, if necessary. These decisions would be made very carefully as I understand the impact this would have on your families, our communities and our economy. Have no doubt that your child's health is my primary concern but know we will weigh all factors in making any decisions.
Having said all of this, I have no intentions of closing school between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I can't guarantee we will stay open, but we are going to do our best. Beyond that, I fully expect we will see closures of some kind and at some places but I have no indication that will happen next week or even within the next month.
Please remember that we are wearing masks in our schools, using hand sanitizer, cleaning and disinfecting our buildings, our equipment and our buses every day. I'm very confident about the environment in which our students and staff are operating but we need the community to keep up the same effort for the continued growth of COVID-19 cases could force school closures.
I will be sending out another email later this week with a more detailed reminder about our COVID-19 protocols and plans. This will include more detailed information about what might happen should the day come to close any of our schools between now and the end of school in May.
While I do not like to address rumors, I do not want you and your families to harbor unfounded anxieties about possible school closures. Please know you will get facts from me, directly, if anything like this is likely to happen.
Please enjoy the rest of your day. We will talk again soon.
Eddie Tyler, Superintendent